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China Readies for Protests
During Olympic Torch Relay
Eugene Tang
Bloomberg
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Chinese authorities are preparing for protests during the Tibetan
stage of the Olympic torch relay and will deal with demonstrators
``severely,'' the chairman of the region's provincial government
said.
``We are taking ample measures and we will deal with troublemakers
severely according to the law,'' Qiangba Puncog told reporters
in Beijing today. ``Measures do not include curfews, shutting
of roads or shutting of schools.''
Protesters demanding independence for Tibet disrupted the Paris
and London stages of the international relay and demonstrations
are expected when the flame passes through San Francisco today.
The relay, which started April 1, is scheduled to arrive back
in mainland China on May 4 and journey through Tibet June 19 to
21.
(Article continues below)
China blames the Dalai Lama for instigating the biggest protests
in Tibet in almost 20 years and says his supporters are trying
to sabotage the Beijing Games.
``I am sure the Dalai clique will plan something to try to disrupt
the torch relay in Lhasa,'' said Qiangba. ``Life will proceed
as normal'' in the Tibetan capital.
He declined to say how many extra Chinese soldiers have been
deployed to the region since the protests began last month.
Tibetan Uprising
The unrest began March 10 when hundreds of monks marched in Lhasa
calling for an end to religious restrictions and the release of
imprisoned colleagues. The date marked the anniversary of a failed
Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule in 1959, after which the
Dalai Lama fled to India.
Riots broke out in Lhasa March 14 and spread to Tibetan- inhabited
provinces of western China, including Gansu and Sichuan.
The protests were the largest since pro-independence demonstrations
in 1989 prompted President Hu Jintao, then the Communist Party
head in Tibet, to impose martial law.
Full
article here.
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INFOWARS:
BECAUSE THERE'S A WAR ON FOR YOUR MIND
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